# Ferdinand de Lesseps

_French diplomat and entrepreneur, developer of the Suez Canal (1805–1894)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/ferdinand-de-lesseps
Last updated: 2026-11-01

> Ferdinand Marie de Lesseps (French: [lesɛps]; 19 November 1805 – 7 December 1894) was a French Orientalist diplomat and later developer of the Suez Canal, which in 1869, joined the Mediterranean and Red Seas, substantially reducing sailing distances and times between Europe and East Asia.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 19 November 1805 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q209169#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Versailles ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q209169#P19))
- **Died:** 7 December 1894 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q209169#P570))
- **Place of death:** Guilly ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q209169#P20))
- **Citizenship:** France ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q209169#P27))
- **Occupation:** diplomat; entrepreneur; writer; engineer ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q209169#P106))
- **Education:** Lycée Henri-IV ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q209169#P69))
- **Spouse:** Louise-Hélène Autard de Bragard; Agathe Delamalle ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q209169#P26))
- **Positions held:** Member of the Académie française (21 February 1884 – 7 December 1894); president (since 1881); ambassador of France to Spain (1848–1849); Consul General of France in Barcelona (1842–1848); Consul General of France in Alexandria (1835–1837) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q209169#P39))
- **Awards:** Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour; Albert Medal; Marcelin Guérin Prize; Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q209169#P166))

## About

He attempted to repeat this success with an effort to build a Panama Canal at sea level during the 1880s, but the project was devastated by epidemics of malaria and yellow fever in the area, as well as by financial problems, and the planned Lesseps Panama Canal was never completed. Eventually, the project was bought out by the United States, which solved the medical problems and changed the design to a non-sea- level canal with locks. It was completed in 1914.

## Questions

**When was Ferdinand de Lesseps born?**  
Ferdinand de Lesseps was born on 19 November 1805 in Versailles.

**What positions has Ferdinand de Lesseps held?**  
Positions held by Ferdinand de Lesseps include: Member of the Académie française (1884–1894); president (since 1881); ambassador of France to Spain (1848–1849); Consul General of France in Barcelona (1842–1848); Consul General of France in Alexandria (1835–1837).

**Where did Ferdinand de Lesseps study?**  
Ferdinand de Lesseps was educated at Lycée Henri-IV.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Ferdinand de Lesseps](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_de_Lesseps) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q209169](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q209169) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Retrato de Ferdinand de Lesseps, por Felix Nadar.jpg by Nadar (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Retrato_de_Ferdinand_de_Lesseps,_por_Felix_Nadar.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Ferdinand de Lesseps, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Retrato de Ferdinand de Lesseps, por Felix Nadar.jpg — Nadar, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Ferdinand de Lesseps". DigiNepal. Last updated 1 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/ferdinand-de-lesseps. Retrieved 5 November 2026.